© 1999 Steve Barry steve@daylightimages.com
Showing off its Burlington-inspired paint scheme, the Bloomer Geeps head south toward Chatsworth.
TT2406
At Chatsworth, the Bloomer crosses the Toledo, Peoria & Western. The TP&W caboose on the right is on display. At one time the Bloomer kept its locomotives in Chatsworth, but now maintenance is done at Gibson City.
TT2407
The southbound Bloomer train passes the abandoned elevator at Cereal.
TT2408
The Bloomer at Risk (that's the name of the town) -- From Saxony (just north of Cullom where our chase began) to Risk the Bloomer operates over former Illinois Central trackage. At Risk the IC crossed the Wabash on a diamond. Today the Bloomer serves the IC beyond Risk as far aas Colfax and the Wabash to Gibson City. Here the train is swinging onto the former Wabash. The Wabash is abandoned north of here, and the signal protected the Wabash at the IC diamond.
TT2409
Up and over -- between Strawn and Sibley the Bloomer rolls up and down the Illinois countryside. At this point we broke off our chase of the Bloomer to pick up a westbound TP&W freight. But it was a treat to get a taste of what the Burlington looked like in the 1960s.
TT2410
Click here to return to Bloomer Line page 1
Click here for more railroad photo essays
